Month: June 2010

I have been pretty quiet during this 2010 World Cup. This publication has been doing an excellent job covering the biggest sporting event on this planet and there hasn't been many thought's that I have had that haven't already been commented on. Until today….

With both the United States and Mexico being knocked out of the World Cup over the course of the weekend I think that it is safe to say that the general interest of the tournament will go by the wayside. Most will be over the elimination of these two teams by sundown, except for a few like yours truly.

Fact is that both of these teams being eliminated from the World Cup can be described in two words, "complete failure". These two teams had so much potential going into the tournament and it has ended in the same place, the round of 16. It appears that this round is the Purgatory for the nations in this part of the world when it comes to soccer. I don't remember each of these teams ever being so full of promise to make an impact on the biggest stage end with such disappointment.

Don't blame the refs. The lack of instant replays. Or even the vuvuzellas. These two teams simply didn't get it done.

The reality that needs to be faced is that we still need to develop and learn A LOT more about the World's most popular sport before any fans can think we have a chance at taking that next step, that elusive 5th match that will allow us to dream a few days more that the impossible is possible. I always say that the World Cup is full of surprises, but the same teams always win. With that being said, I'm starting roll call. Germany? Present. Argentina? Present. Brazil???….

In approximately 4 hours it will be time for the World to focus on one of the most anticipated games in the opening round of the World Cup. The U.S. will take on England. It is the time for this U.S. squad to transcend in the eyes of the soccer world and in less then 4 hours they will attempt to do so against a power house. I don't necessarily believe that the U.S. needs to have the game of their life to have a positive result. They just simply have to stay basic and do their job. After all, England has not look spectacular on their way leading up to today. Go Yanks!!!

We are less than 2 hours from the start of the planet's biggest sporting event. Everything seems to be in place as Johannesburg's Soccercity will be the focus of the world as the hosting nation will open the tournament against Mexico. It will be the "Bafana-Bafana" versus "El Tri". That will be the first of 64 games over the next month, the greatest celebration the world knows. More to come later. For now lets just enjoy the game. Vamos MEXICO!!! SI SE PUEDE!!! Like official song for the World Cup sang by Shakira says, "WAKA-WAKA Ah Eh Eh, Its time for Africa!!!".

Less than three days to go before the start of the 2010 World Cup the World is counting down with eager anticipation. Everywhere, except in our beloved U.S. of A. Why??? Is it because the NBA Finals is going on? No. Is it because the first third of the Major League Baseball Season is in full swing and we can't get enough and we have to see every single one of the 162 games in the regular season??? Doubt that. I know. Maybe because football season is only a short 13 weeks away from starting. Analysts and fans alike everywhere just can't get enough of discussing what the St. Louis Rams need in order to have a legitimate shot at the playoffs??? Well for this third question, pathetically enough, it might actually be true. But for argument sakes let's say it isn't.

In my humble opinion the reason why we don't care for the World Cup is because it simply doesn't benefit the average American sports fan. The U.S. is irrelevant on the international soccer scene and therefore it just doesn't appeal to us. Our pride as Americans gets in the way. This leads me to one conclusion, if we as a nation are not the best at something it automatically sucks. The Americans can't win a World Baseball Classic you hear fans everywhere say things like, "Oh, who cares, the best baseball is in the MLB. That's what matters." Prior to these last Olympics in China the U.S. had gone a while without winning an international basketball tournament. Every time we were tossed from a tournament you would hear fans say, "Who cares about that tournament, we have the best basketball in the NBA…".

That's fine, I mean after all no one can control ignorance. Still I don't think we should minimize what means so much to the rest of the World. Are we really that arrogant? The rest of the World is about to enjoy a month long party and sadly enough we are clueless as to how great it truly is. It's almost like being invited somewhere that you know is going to be unreal and declining because deep down inside you know your not going to be the coolest or most popular person there.

Notice I said the World is about the have a month long party. Only 32 nations are participating in the tournament, and last time I checked there are more than 32 nations on this planet.

Still not convinced??? I have one more for you. Eleven years ago America fell in LOVE with soccer. Oh you don't remember??? Yeah it was the 1999 Women's World Cup. You know Mia Hamm, that Brandi girl with the sports bra waving her jersey in the air. The Sports Illustrated cover, the whole nine yards. That ring a bell???

America was captivated by the World's most popular sport in that summer of 1999. Any ideas why that was the case??? Still don't know??? Let me ask you this, who won that World Cup???

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup less than a week away, the two teams that undoubtedly will have the attention of the people here in the Borderland are ready to go at full strength. Mexico and the U.S. seem to have all their chips lined up for this coming weekend, as the planet's biggest and most popular sporting event is set to get underway.

Mexico will go up against hosting nation South Africa on Friday morning (8:00am local time) in the Cup's opening match in Johannesburg's Soccercity. Recently there were a couple of players that had reported a couple of problems. They were forward Guillermo Franco and central defender Rafael Marquez. Franco practiced with the squad over the weekend, while it was reported that Marquez participated in today's practice session.

As for the U.S., forward Jozy Altidore tweaked his ankle during the tail end of last week but has been practicing with the team for the last couple of days. The U.S. squad beat Australia on Saturday by a score of 3-1. The team looked very solid in a match were Altidore did not see any action. The "Yanks" did not skip a beat and in my opinion looked the best in this final prep match as compared to their previous engagements against Turkey and the Czech Republic. Edson Buddle and Hercules Gomez more than had the forward zone covered. These are two players that barely made the final 23-man roster cut but find themselves peaking at just the right time, just days from the start of the World Cup. They scored the 3 gols for the U.S. (Buddle-2, Gomez-1).

Mexico also closed their endless prep match tour with an important victory against defending World Cup Champion Italy on Thursday by a score of 2-1 in Belgium. The victory was significant and a morale booster despite Italy not being in top form for the match. Despite that, Italy is still Italy and is a team that imposes conditions anytime they play. Regarding the injuries that Mexico has had to overcome, I think the important one of the two is the one suffered by Marquez. He is the heart of Mexico's defense and plays a vital role in the team's function. Franco is just another of Mexico's offensive threats. Luckily for "El Tri" they seem to have several this World Cup. Over the course of their prep matches in the U.S., Mexico, and Europe a variety of players have scored for this team, the culmination of a well balanced offensive attack.

In other news just released today, Ivory Coast superstar Didier Drogba will be ready to go for the Ivory Coast's first game. He suffered a broken bone in his right arm (ulna) on June 4th in a prep match against Japan. Apparently he had surgery over the weekend and it was reported today that he will participate in the Cup.

A player that I am personally glad will participate for Spain is Xavi Hernandez. He is the attacking midfielder for Spain and suffered an ankle injury a couple of weeks ago. I recommend that if you don't know who he is to pay attention to him during the tournament. I can pretty much promise you that any time that Spain scores the play will begin with him or he will put in the pass for goal.

Finally the CF Indios will begin their season at home on July 17 at Benito Juarez Olympic Stadium. The fight to be promoted once again to Mexico's first division will start on this Saturday the 17th at 6:00 pm. Until next time, VAMOS Indios!!!